I have promises from genealogists in England, Scotland, the US and Australia to prepare profiles for GeniMates. I will publish these as they come through.
I am about to send out another round of invitations and would dearly love to profile people from other nations. I notice that I have readers from China, Hungary, France, Argentina, Brazil, Iran, South Korea and Norway. I would also love to profile someone from Ireland.. If you are one of these readers I'd love to put your profile on GeniMates. Please email genimates@genimates.com if you are interested.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Seonaid Harvey Lewis
GeniMates is moving across the ditch (the sea that divides Australia from our mates in New Zealand) for our next GeniMates profile. Seonaid, the first Kiwi to be profiled on this blog, is another librarian who claims to have a dream job.A committed online genealogist Seonaid organised the Waitangi Day Blog Challenge and following on the success of that activity she has now set The Anzac Day Blog Challenge. I appreciate the time she has put into an interesting and informative profile.
Date 25 March 2011
Name Seonaid (Shona) Harvey Lewis
Hometown Auckland, New Zealand
How long have you been chasing ancestors? 15 years
What, if any, formal or informal studies have you undertaken that are relevant to genealogical research? Although I have a number of years of experience with informal genealogical research, I have no formal qualifications, but would like to gain some at some stage. At the moment I am concentrating on my library studies.
I have a Diploma in Information and Library Studies, and have nearly finished a Diploma in Records Management.
I also have professional registration with LIANZA (Library and Information Association of New Zealand Aotearoa).
I wish New Zealand had professional qualifications for family history research, ideally tied to the library qualifications. At present, we can only study using overseas institutions, which are expensive in NZ dollars, and aren't government or employer subsidised.
Genealogy is still considered a hobby and not a recognised professional option here.
My father knew very little about his, and decided he wanted to know more when I was living in the UK. He asked me to look up a few things for him, which I did - and I was hooked. Then I started looking up my mother's.
I found that solving that first mystery, digging up that first skeleton gave me a rush of excitement I can't describe! The excitement is still there after all these years.
• Newfoundland (not really Canadian, as my grandfather left NFL prior to it joining Canada)
• England
• Scotland
I have interests in Ireland and Wales still to pursue, but have a basic but growing knowledge.
Professionally, I have a growing expertise in New Zealand, and am starting to make headway on Australian, based on working in the field for the last 12 months.
Central Auckland Research Centre is a certified "Family Search Family History Research Centre"
Newfoundland
England
Scotland
- Ireland further back.
Husband's: Wales and England
• HARVEY – Carbonear, Newfoundland and Kent England;
• POTTLE – Carbonear, Newfoundland;
• BOOTHER – Kent and London, England;
• SULLIVAN – Kent, England and Cork, Ireland
• McKENZIE – Aberdeen, Scotland;
• SWANSON – Aberdeen and Olrig, Caithness, Scotland;
• LITTLE– Kilmanock, Ayr and Edinburgh, Scotland;
• DUNCAN – Edinburgh, and Cupar, Fife Scotland
• LEWIS, Caernarvon, Wales
• JONES, Caernarvon, Wales
• FIPKIN, London, England
• ANDERSON, London, England
This is where my grandfather grew up. Would like to visit and visit the family home and the cemetery where my ancestors are buried. My grandfather didn't share much info about himself, so I would like to try and connect with him somehow.
And I love social media as a sharing research tool.
Family: husband, 2 girls - twins; pets (chocolate labrador dog, two cats)
• Dance like there is no one is watching. Live like there is no tomorrow. Love like you've never been hurt.
• Work hard, play hard
• There's always three sides to every story – your side, my side and the truth!
I am passionate about family history. I really believe in the saying "how do you know who you are, if you don't know where you have come from?"
Skeletons are to be celebrated not be ashamed of. But you do need to be sensitive to those who think and feel differently.
I am still learning, still consider myself a newbie. I will never consider my family history complete.
I am very happy to have been accepted into the social media circle of genealogists and family historians, and have learnt alot from them. Twitter and Facebook are great research tools as well as fantastic ways of communicating!
Monday, March 28, 2011
Carole Riley
Carole is an enthusiastic and energetic professional genealogist who lives in Sydney, NSW. Although we hadn't met in person until last year and we live just a few kkm apart I had met Carole virtually a few years ago through social networking sites.
As well as working professionally Carole does an amazing amount of voluntary work for The Society of Australian Genealogists. She has also neglected to say in her profile that she was instrumental in setting up the TMG Sydney Users Group and organising that Group's online presence. I am delighted to introduce you to Carole.
Date 19 March 2011
Name Carole Riley
Hometown Dubbo, NSW
Are you a Hobbyist or Professional Genealogist? Professional
How did you get hooked on genealogy? My uncle wrote a family tree program and then collected information from relatives to put into it and distributed it to the rest of us. It wasn't much of a program, in fact it didn't even have a field for the date of death, but it got me looking for more information, and a new program.
Please outline your involvement in Genealogy Societies and Groups I serve on the Council of the Society of Australian Genealogists and the Board of Directors of the Association of Professional Genealogists.
What are the lands of your ancestors? Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, the United States, Ireland, Scotland and England. There is a family legend about Huguenots but I have not yet been able to substantiate it.
What Family Names are you Researching? Riley, Whippy, Simpson, Brown, Andrews, Connel/Connor, Cusack, Eason, Stewart, Simpson (again), Lowe, Craig, Allan, Love, Thomson, Goode, Miles...
Who is your favourite ancestor? Whichever one I'm researching at the moment.
What ancestral city or town would you like to visit? Why? Still planning a trip to Ireland, and I always love going to Fiji.
What is your favourite resource for genealogy? State Records NSW Western Sydney Records Centre. Such wonderful resources and helpful archivists to help you find them!
Do you keep your genealogy files on paper? Yes
Do you keep your genealogy files on a computer? Yes
What genealogy software do you use to record your family tree? The Master Genealogist
Do you have your tree posted on the internet? Yes
If Yes What is the URL? http://caroleriley.id.au/familyTree
What Social Networking Sites do you use for genealogy? Ancestry, Facebook, MyHeritage , Twitter
Do you have a blog? Several
What are your blogs' URLs? http://caroleriley.id.au, http://nswgenealogy.com.au/blog, http://fijigenealogy.com, http://socialmediagen.com
You can read more about Carole at her blog profile.
As well as working professionally Carole does an amazing amount of voluntary work for The Society of Australian Genealogists. She has also neglected to say in her profile that she was instrumental in setting up the TMG Sydney Users Group and organising that Group's online presence. I am delighted to introduce you to Carole.
Date 19 March 2011
Name Carole Riley
Hometown Dubbo, NSW
Are you a Hobbyist or Professional Genealogist? Professional
How did you get hooked on genealogy? My uncle wrote a family tree program and then collected information from relatives to put into it and distributed it to the rest of us. It wasn't much of a program, in fact it didn't even have a field for the date of death, but it got me looking for more information, and a new program.
Please outline your involvement in Genealogy Societies and Groups I serve on the Council of the Society of Australian Genealogists and the Board of Directors of the Association of Professional Genealogists.
What are the lands of your ancestors? Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, the United States, Ireland, Scotland and England. There is a family legend about Huguenots but I have not yet been able to substantiate it.
What Family Names are you Researching? Riley, Whippy, Simpson, Brown, Andrews, Connel/Connor, Cusack, Eason, Stewart, Simpson (again), Lowe, Craig, Allan, Love, Thomson, Goode, Miles...
Who is your favourite ancestor? Whichever one I'm researching at the moment.
What ancestral city or town would you like to visit? Why? Still planning a trip to Ireland, and I always love going to Fiji.
What is your favourite resource for genealogy? State Records NSW Western Sydney Records Centre. Such wonderful resources and helpful archivists to help you find them!
Do you keep your genealogy files on paper? Yes
Do you keep your genealogy files on a computer? Yes
What genealogy software do you use to record your family tree? The Master Genealogist
Do you have your tree posted on the internet? Yes
If Yes What is the URL? http://caroleriley.id.au/familyTree
What Social Networking Sites do you use for genealogy? Ancestry, Facebook, MyHeritage , Twitter
Do you have a blog? Several
What are your blogs' URLs? http://caroleriley.id.au, http://nswgenealogy.com.au/blog, http://fijigenealogy.com, http://socialmediagen.com
You can read more about Carole at her blog profile.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Julie Goucher
Our latest GeniMate from England is very active in the online world. I have encountered Julie through Twitter and at her blog, Angler's Rest. I was most impressed when Julie took up a challenge from Shelley at Twigs of Yore and submitted a blog post for The Australia Day Genealogy Challenge.
Thanks, Julie, for a thoughtful post.
Date 20th March, 2011
Name Julie Goucher
HometownA Surrey girl living in Devon
Are you a Hobbyist or Professional Genealogist? Hobbyist
What, if any, formal or informal studies have you undertaken that are relevant to genealogical research? I have a Honours Degree in history
How long have you been chasing ancestors? Since 1986
How did you get hooked on genealogy? I was hugely influenced by elderly relatives, three Great Aunts and an elderly cousin who shared so much of their earlier lives that I simply wanted to know more and more and more!
What are your areas of Expertise in Genealogy? I don't know if I am an expert, but I am currently undertaking two one name studies, one of which is for an Italian surname and a one place study.
Please outline your involvement in Genealogy Societies and Groups
I am a member of :
West Surrey Family History Society since 1986
Hampshire Genealogical Society
Sussex Family History Group
Families in British India
Guild of One Name Studies since 2002
I am also a member of the Anglo Italian Family History Society and was one of the founder members and spent the first 4 years or so as the Vice Chair of the Society.
What are the lands of your ancestors? The majority of my maternal line is from the Surrey,Hampshire and Sussex borders. I also have a line in the Midlands and my paternal line is from a rural community in Sicily. I also have lines that migrated to Canada and Australia. There are also link with the East India Company, and a rumour of a paper mill in Russia!
What Family Names are you Researching? Here are a few of them: Butcher, Budd,Goucher,Worship,Orlando,Pim, Elstone,Denyer,Matthews,Jelley, Ellis
Who is your favourite ancestor? Why? My favourite has got to be a chap called Henry Budd who is my 6 x Great Grandfather. Henry has lead me on quite a journey over the last 20 odd years. I eventually found his marriage after 15 years of looking! I then, quite by chance came across a reference to a Henry Budd in the rural village of Shackleford and believe that this is Henry's birth place. Sadly records for that parish have not survived. Henry is believed to have been born circa 1700. He married Martha Ottaway in Chertsey in 1723 and raised his family of 8 children in Puttenham Surrey.
What ancestral city or town would you like to visit? Why? I would love to go back to Australia and follow as much as possible the footsteps of my ancestor Esther Bellasis nee King. Esther's husband was an officer in the East India Company and following a dual in which the other man was killed, George Bridges Bellasis was sentenced to transportation to Botany Bay. Esther accompanied him, although the sentence was overturned. Meanwhile, Esther left in Australia a lovely picture and it is believed the be the earliest piece of artwork by a women in the colony. I would love to be able to explore this line further. Esther was certainly a women, who quite accidentally put herself into the historical light.
What is your favourite resource for genealogy? The internet is a fabulous resource for genealogy, the facilities on line that have developed over the last 20 years or so is wonderful. Not just the indexes, but the transcriptions and document scans on sites such as Ancestry and Find my Past to name just two. Also the interaction with other genealogists, the support, assistance and genuineness is great. The scope of the internet is limited in some ways to our own imagination, it is a great stepping stone to archives and other areas of research, and is another tool we can use as we pursue our ancestors.
Despite that, you can not beat the attendance at a records office, touching and smelling the archives and absorbing the general feel - wonderful!
Do you keep your genealogy files on paper? Yes
Do you keep your genealogy files on a computer? Yes
What genealogy software do you use to record your family tree? I am currently using a rather elderly piece of software - Family Origins 10 but looking at the alternatives. I also use Family Historian.
Do you have your tree posted on the internet? No
What Social Networking Sites do you use for genealogy?
Ancestry, Facebook, GenealogyWise, Genes Reunited, Twitter
Do you have a blog? Yes
What are your blogs' URLs? www.anglersrest.blogspot.com
What are your Other Hobbies, Activities, Interests? Reading, Walking, National Trust and Collecting
What is your favourite lesiure time activity apart from genealogy? Reading
What is your personal philosophy in a few words ? Life is for living
Thanks, Julie, for a thoughtful post.
 |
| Julie Goucher |
Name Julie Goucher
Hometown
Are you a Hobbyist or Professional Genealogist? Hobbyist
What, if any, formal or informal studies have you undertaken that are relevant to genealogical research? I have a Honours Degree in history
How long have you been chasing ancestors? Since 1986
How did you get hooked on genealogy? I was hugely influenced by elderly relatives, three Great Aunts and an elderly cousin who shared so much of their earlier lives that I simply wanted to know more and more and more!
What are your areas of Expertise in Genealogy? I don't know if I am an expert, but I am currently undertaking two one name studies, one of which is for an Italian surname and a one place study.
Please outline your involvement in Genealogy Societies and Groups
I am a member of :
West Surrey Family History Society since 1986
Hampshire Genealogical Society
Sussex Family History Group
Families in British India
Guild of One Name Studies since 2002
I am also a member of the Anglo Italian Family History Society and was one of the founder members and spent the first 4 years or so as the Vice Chair of the Society.
What are the lands of your ancestors? The majority of my maternal line is from the Surrey,Hampshire and Sussex borders. I also have a line in the Midlands and my paternal line is from a rural community in Sicily. I also have lines that migrated to Canada and Australia. There are also link with the East India Company, and a rumour of a paper mill in Russia!
What Family Names are you Researching? Here are a few of them: Butcher, Budd,Goucher,Worship,Orlando,Pim, Elstone,Denyer,Matthews,Jelley, Ellis
Who is your favourite ancestor? Why? My favourite has got to be a chap called Henry Budd who is my 6 x Great Grandfather. Henry has lead me on quite a journey over the last 20 odd years. I eventually found his marriage after 15 years of looking! I then, quite by chance came across a reference to a Henry Budd in the rural village of Shackleford and believe that this is Henry's birth place. Sadly records for that parish have not survived. Henry is believed to have been born circa 1700. He married Martha Ottaway in Chertsey in 1723 and raised his family of 8 children in Puttenham Surrey.
What ancestral city or town would you like to visit? Why? I would love to go back to Australia and follow as much as possible the footsteps of my ancestor Esther Bellasis nee King. Esther's husband was an officer in the East India Company and following a dual in which the other man was killed, George Bridges Bellasis was sentenced to transportation to Botany Bay. Esther accompanied him, although the sentence was overturned. Meanwhile, Esther left in Australia a lovely picture and it is believed the be the earliest piece of artwork by a women in the colony. I would love to be able to explore this line further. Esther was certainly a women, who quite accidentally put herself into the historical light.
What is your favourite resource for genealogy? The internet is a fabulous resource for genealogy, the facilities on line that have developed over the last 20 years or so is wonderful. Not just the indexes, but the transcriptions and document scans on sites such as Ancestry and Find my Past to name just two. Also the interaction with other genealogists, the support, assistance and genuineness is great. The scope of the internet is limited in some ways to our own imagination, it is a great stepping stone to archives and other areas of research, and is another tool we can use as we pursue our ancestors.
Despite that, you can not beat the attendance at a records office, touching and smelling the archives and absorbing the general feel - wonderful!
What genealogy software do you use to record your family tree? I am currently using a rather elderly piece of software - Family Origins 10 but looking at the alternatives. I also use Family Historian.
Do you have your tree posted on the internet? No
What Social Networking Sites do you use for genealogy?
Do you have a blog? Yes
What are your Other Hobbies, Activities, Interests? Reading, Walking, National Trust and Collecting
What is your favourite lesiure time activity apart from genealogy? Reading
What is your personal philosophy in a few words ? Life is for living
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Aillin O'Brien
This modest young Australian genealogist wondered if she would have something worthwhile to contribute when I invited her to submit a profile for GeniMates. I am pleased that Aillin, who writes thoughtful posts on her blog Australian Genealogy Journeys, has contributed her profile. Thanks, Aillin.
I fear that I have misplaced Aillin's photo so am posting an image from her blog.
Date 19 March 2011
Name Aillin O'Brien
Hometown Rural area of Victoria, Australia
Are you a Hobbyist or Professional Genealogist? Hobbyist
What, if any, formal or informal studies have you undertaken that are relevant to genealogical research?
I completed a Graduate Diploma in Local, Family and Applied History in 2009. I completed an IT degree in 2006. I would like to undertake further my genealogy education in the future.
What is your day job? Looking for work at the moment
How long have you been chasing ancestors? Since 2003
How did you get hooked on genealogy? My Mum had been researching family history since the 1980s. I remember accompanying her on research trips when I was younger, sitting with her at the library while she searched the birth, deaths and marriages indexes on microfilm. I have been vaguely interested in my family history since childhood, but I became really interested when my Mum asked me to put all her records on to computer. We got a copy of Personal Ancestral File (PAF) and then I was hooked.
What are your areas of Expertise in Genealogy? No areas of expertise
Please outline your involvement in Genealogy Societies and Groups I am a member of the Genealogical Society of Victoria, the Australian Institute of Genealogical Studies and the Society of Australian Genealogists. I live in a rural area and unfortunately I don't get to visit their libraries or attend classes or conferences very often. I hope do a lot more of that in the future.
What are the lands of your ancestors? My earliest ancestors arrived in Australia in 1840 (Fullertons) and the latest in 1868 (Bridget Colbert). Of my 16 great great grandparents 10 were Irish, 5 were English and 1 was Welsh. There is a family story that an Irish great great great grandmother had a Spanish mother and that her father (supposedly a soldier) met her mother during the 'Spanish War'. I would love to know if there is a grain of truth in that story. My great great great grandmother, Mary Dunn, would have been born c1813 so that is the right era for the Peninsular War.
What Family Names are you Researching? ANDREWS, ATKINSON, AHERN, BEST, BOWLER, BREEN, BRIGHT, BROWN, CAREW, CHAMBERS, COGHLAN, COLBERT, CRISP, CRONIN, CROOT, DAVEY, DUGGAN, DUNN/DUNNE, GASCOIGNE, GILMORE, GUINANE, ELLIS, FINEGAN, FULLERTON/FULLER/FULLARD/FOLLIARD, HAYES, HEADING, HEHIR, HOGAN, HUTTON, JONES, JOYCE, JUDD, KENEALY, KERSEY/CASEY, MANNIX, MARROWS, MATTHEWS, McALLISTER, McCARTHY, McMAHON, MULHALL, O'BRIEN, PEACOCK, PETTIT, PICKIS/PICKESS/PICKERS, POTTER, PRESTON, PURVIS, RANDALL, SIMMES, SMITH, TANGNEY, TAYLOR, WALWYN
Who is your favourite ancestor? Why? No particular favourite ancestor. I like them all.
What ancestral city or town would you like to visit? Why? I would like to someday visit all my known ancestral regions in Ireland, England and Wales.
What is your favourite resource for genealogy?It is a bit hard to chose a favourite! Probably Trove (http://trove.nla.gov.au) is my favourite. I also like Cora Num's Web Sites for Genealogists, it is a great Australian genealogy portal, with links to many useful Australian resources. (http://coraweb.com.au/)
Do you keep your genealogy files on paper? Yes
Do you keep your genealogy files on a computer? Yes
What genealogy software do you use to record your family tree? Legacy. I also have a copy of Family Tree Maker, Family Historian and Roots Magic, mostly because I love to play around with the different features of genealogy software.
Do you have your tree posted on the internet? No
What Social Networking Sites do you use for genealogy? Ancestry, Facebook, GenealogyWise, Genes Reunited, LinkedIn, Twitter
Do you have a blog? Yes
What are your blogs' URLs? http://ausgenjourneys.blogspot.com, http://ausgen.blogspot.com
What are your Other Hobbies, Activities, Interests? IT, photography, reading, nature, animals, my faith, and I really want to get into gardening and travel too!
What is your favourite lesiure time activity apart from genealogy? Reading
What is your favourite (non genealogy) book? Jane Austen's novels
What is your personal philosophy in a few words ? Haven't really developed my own yet, but among those I like is: 'Never see a need without trying to do something about it' - St Mary MacKillop.
An enthusiastic GeniMate, Joan Miller of Luxegen from Calgary, Alberta was one of the first genies to be profiled on GeniMates. Joan has been an great supporter of this blog and has given me loads of encouragement via blog and Facebook comments and tweets.
Joan has once again demonstrated her support by nominating GeniMates for the One Lovely Blog Award. I am thrilled to acceptthis award from one of my favourite genealogists. Thank you, Joan, for this gong and for your ongoing support of GeniMates.
The rules for accepting the award are:
* Accept the ward, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who granted the award and their blog link.
* Pass the award on to 15 other blogs that you've newly discovered.
* Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.
One the last two occasions I received this award I said "It seems a bit like overkill to me to pass this award on to 15 blogs so I am just going to select a few that I follow and enjoy from my RSS Feeds." I now feel a bit guilty about this so I will nominate ten blogs this time to make a total of fifteen.
http://www.luxegen.ca/ Luxegen Genealogy and Family History - Back at you, Joan.
http://dorset-ancestors.com/ Dorset Ancestors - Providing insights to descendants of Dorset
http://familyhistory21ster.blogspot.com/ Family History 21ster - Myles - Thanks for a great survey
http://www.misrule.com.au/s9y/ Children's Literature news from Judith Ridge, have been reading this one for years
http://carolsheadstonephotographs.blogspot.com/ Carole's Headstone Photographs - Carole does an amazing job photographing Australian headstones
http://cmgurney.blogspot.com/ Caro's Family Chronicles - A favourite read from the UK
http://librariansarego.blogspot.com/ Librarians are go - Stacey T. an energetic, enthusiastic Teacher Librarian from Sydney who is always willing to give it a go
http://genealogymatters2me.blogspot.com/ The Tree of me - favourite new Aussie genealogy blog from Teacher Librarian, Sharon - Looking back at you, too.
http://readersinthemist.blogspot.com/ The blog of Blue Mountains City Library, New South Wales, Australia. - an examplar for other public libraries to follow
http://geniaus.blogspot.com/ A bit of nepotism here - I love my other blog too.
I fear that I have misplaced Aillin's photo so am posting an image from her blog.
Date 19 March 2011
Name Aillin O'Brien
Hometown Rural area of Victoria, Australia
Are you a Hobbyist or Professional Genealogist? Hobbyist
What, if any, formal or informal studies have you undertaken that are relevant to genealogical research?
What is your day job? L
How long have you been chasing ancestors? Since 2003
How did you get hooked on genealogy? My Mum had been researching family history since the 1980s. I remember accompanying her on research trips when I was younger, sitting with her at the library while she searched the birth, deaths and marriages indexes on microfilm. I have been vaguely interested in my family history since childhood, but I became really interested when my Mum asked me to put all her records on to computer. We got a copy of Personal Ancestral File (PAF) and then I was hooked.
What are your areas of Expertise in Genealogy? No areas of expertise
Please outline your involvement in Genealogy Societies and Groups I am a member of the Genealogical Society of Victoria, the Australian Institute of Genealogical Studies and the Society of Australian Genealogists. I live in a rural area and unfortunately I don't get to visit their libraries or attend classes or conferences very often. I hope do a lot more of that in the future.
What are the lands of your ancestors? My earliest ancestors arrived in Australia in 1840 (Fullertons) and the latest in 1868 (Bridget Colbert). Of my 16 great great grandparents 10 were Irish, 5 were English and 1 was Welsh. There is a family story that an Irish great great great grandmother had a Spanish mother and that her father (supposedly a soldier) met her mother during the 'Spanish War'. I would love to know if there is a grain of truth in that story. My great great great grandmother, Mary Dunn, would have been born c1813 so that is the right era for the Peninsular War.
What Family Names are you Researching? ANDREWS, ATKINSON, AHERN, BEST, BOWLER, BREEN, BRIGHT, BROWN, CAREW, CHAMBERS, COGHLAN, COLBERT, CRISP, CRONIN, CROOT, DAVEY, DUGGAN, DUNN/DUNNE, GASCOIGNE, GILMORE, GUINANE, ELLIS, FINEGAN, FULLERTON/FULLER/FULLARD/FOLLIARD, HAYES, HEADING, HEHIR, HOGAN, HUTTON, JONES, JOYCE, JUDD, KENEALY, KERSEY/CASEY, MANNIX, MARROWS, MATTHEWS, McALLISTER, McCARTHY, McMAHON, MULHALL, O'BRIEN, PEACOCK, PETTIT, PICKIS/PICKESS/PICKERS, POTTER, PRESTON, PURVIS, RANDALL, SIMMES, SMITH, TANGNEY, TAYLOR, WALWYN
Who is your favourite ancestor? Why? No particular favourite ancestor. I like them all.
What ancestral city or town would you like to visit? Why? I would like to someday visit all my known ancestral regions in Ireland, England and Wales.
What is your favourite resource for genealogy?
Do you keep your genealogy files on paper? Yes
Do you keep your genealogy files on a computer? Yes
What genealogy software do you use to record your family tree?
Do you have your tree posted on the internet? No
What Social Networking Sites do you use for genealogy? Ancestry, Facebook, GenealogyWise, Genes Reunited, LinkedIn, Twitter
Do you have a blog? Yes
What are your blogs' URLs? http://ausgenjourneys.blogspot.com, http://ausgen.blogspot.com
What are your Other Hobbies, Activities, Interests? IT, photography, reading, nature, animals, my faith, and I really want to get into gardening and travel too!
What is your favourite lesiure time activity apart from genealogy? Reading
What is your favourite (non genealogy) book? Jane Austen's novels
What is your personal philosophy in a few words ?
Monday, March 21, 2011
World Poetry Day
In response to a plea to share some genealogy poetry by my alter-ego, Geniaus, I am posting a genealogy poem for World Poetry Day.
I'm not a Byron, Keats or Shelley so I have borrowed a poem from a collection hosted at Rootsweb. This is a prayer for all my GeniMates.
Prayer For Genealogists
Lord, help me dig into the past,
And sift the sands of time,
That I might find the roots that made
This family tree mine.
Lord, help me trace the ancient roads,
On which my fathers trod,
And led them through so many lands,
To find our present sod.
Lord, help me find an ancient book,
Or dusty manuscript,
That's safely hidden now away,
In some forgotten crypt,
Lord, let it bridge the gap that haunts
My soul, when I can't find
The missing link between some name
That ends the same as mine.
I'm not a Byron, Keats or Shelley so I have borrowed a poem from a collection hosted at Rootsweb. This is a prayer for all my GeniMates.
Prayer For Genealogists
Lord, help me dig into the past,
And sift the sands of time,
That I might find the roots that made
This family tree mine.
Lord, help me trace the ancient roads,
On which my fathers trod,
And led them through so many lands,
To find our present sod.
Lord, help me find an ancient book,
Or dusty manuscript,
That's safely hidden now away,
In some forgotten crypt,
Lord, let it bridge the gap that haunts
My soul, when I can't find
The missing link between some name
That ends the same as mine.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
One Lovely Blog Award x3
Joan has once again demonstrated her support by nominating GeniMates for the One Lovely Blog Award. I am thrilled to acceptthis award from one of my favourite genealogists. Thank you, Joan, for this gong and for your ongoing support of GeniMates.
The rules for accepting the award are:
* Accept the ward, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who granted the award and their blog link.
* Pass the award on to 15 other blogs that you've newly discovered.
* Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.
One the last two occasions I received this award I said "It seems a bit like overkill to me to pass this award on to 15 blogs so I am just going to select a few that I follow and enjoy from my RSS Feeds." I now feel a bit guilty about this so I will nominate ten blogs this time to make a total of fifteen.
http://www.luxegen.ca/ Luxegen Genealogy and Family History - Back at you, Joan.
http://dorset-ancestors.com/ Dorset Ancestors - Providing insights to descendants of Dorset
http://familyhistory21ster.blogspot.com/ Family History 21ster - Myles - Thanks for a great survey
http://www.misrule.com.au/s9y/ Children's Literature news from Judith Ridge, have been reading this one for years
http://carolsheadstonephotographs.blogspot.com/ Carole's Headstone Photographs - Carole does an amazing job photographing Australian headstones
http://cmgurney.blogspot.com/ Caro's Family Chronicles - A favourite read from the UK
http://librariansarego.blogspot.com/ Librarians are go - Stacey T. an energetic, enthusiastic Teacher Librarian from Sydney who is always willing to give it a go
http://genealogymatters2me.blogspot.com/ The Tree of me - favourite new Aussie genealogy blog from Teacher Librarian, Sharon - Looking back at you, too.
http://readersinthemist.blogspot.com/ The blog of Blue Mountains City Library, New South Wales, Australia. - an examplar for other public libraries to follow
http://geniaus.blogspot.com/ A bit of nepotism here - I love my other blog too.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Debbie Kennett
I am pleased to present our first GeniMates profile from England. I have been following Debbie on Twitter and have been impressed with the work she has done with One-Name Studies. Thanks, Debbie for telling us about your involvement in genealogy.
Date 16th March 2011
Name Debbie Kennett
Are you a Hobbyist or Professional Genealogist? A bit of both
What is your day job? I am a freelance copy editor and proofreader but I mix it up with genealogy work such as writing articles and research in the local archives. I spent much of the second half of 2010 writing a book on DNA and social networking for the family historian which is due to be published by the History Press in the autumn.
What, if any, formal or informal studies have you undertaken that are relevant to genealogical research? None. I have learnt from experience and from my own reading. I found Mark Herber's book "Ancestral Trails" particularly useful when I first started out.
How long have you been chasing ancestors? Nine years
How did you get hooked on genealogy?I started my research after the death of my father-in-law. We inherited a collection of old photographs without any names so I started to write to relatives to try and find out who they all were. It then all spiralled from there. Having researched my husband's family I thought I should start on my own and I've not stopped since!
What are your areas of Expertise in Genealogy? I have a lot of experience with the records in Devon and Berkshire, and I am also familiar with many of the medieval records as I have a number of gentry lines which can be traced back a long way. In the last few years I have specialised in the field of genetic genealogy - the application of DNA testing to family history research. I also have a particular interest in the use of social media for genealogy purposes.
Please outline your involvement in Genealogy Societies and Groups I am a member of the Guild of One-Name Studies where I have registered the surnames Cruse and Cruwys. I am also a member of the Guild's Marketing Sub-Committee. In addition I belong to the following societies:
Berkshire Family History Society
Devon Family History Society
Society of Genealogists
Somerset and Dorset Family History Society
I have recently signed up to become a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists.
What are the lands of your ancestors? I have one great-great-great-grandfather from Scotland and one great-great-great-grandmother from County Kerry in Ireland. Otherwise all my lines are in England and concentrated in the south of the country. I have ancestors from Devon, Somerset, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and London.
What Family Names are you Researching? Batt, Berryman, Bodger, Boundy, Couch, Crewes, Crews, Cruise, Cruse, Cruwys, Dillon, Eastmond, Faithfull, Gough, Hunter, Kennett, Keynes, Male, Offley, Paddon, Pigg, Ratty, Rudd, Saunders, Smart, Tidbury, Trask, Tout, Underwood, Walker, Westcott, Whiting, Wiggins, Wolfenden and many more.
Who is your favourite ancestor? Why? My favourite ancestor is my great-great-great-great-grandfather David Tidbury simply because of his phenomenal military record. He was a humble private with the Royal Welch Fusiliers (23rd Regiment of Foot) in the Peninsular War (1808-1814). He somehow managed to survive most of the major battles in the Peninsular War (Albuera, Badajoz, Salamanca, Vittoria, etc) as well as the Battle of Waterloo. He died in 1867 when he was supposedly 84 years old. He was awarded the Military General Service Medal with eight clasps and, like every soldier who was present at the Battle of Waterloo, he was awarded the Waterloo Medal.
What ancestral city or town would you like to visit? Why? I would like to go and see the Peninsular War battlefields where David Tidbury fought. I'd also like to go to Richmond Hill, Long Island, in America to see the home where my great-great-grandmother Anne Cruwys nee Wall spent the last fifteen or so years of her life and to see the cemetery where she is buried (Maple Grove Cemetery in Kew Gardens, Queens, NY). She emigrated in 1901 when she was in her sixties to go and live with her unmarried son and daughter.
What is your favourite resource for genealogy? Mailing lists. I have met many wonderful people over the years who have provided much-needed advice and encouragement.
Do you keep your genealogy files on paper? Yes
Do you keep your genealogy files on a computer? Yes
What genealogy software do you use to record your family tree? I use Family Historian, a British genealogy programme, which is excellent for storing and sorting large quantities of data and for recording sources. A trial version can be downloaded here: http://www.family-historian.co.uk
Do you have your tree posted on the internet? No
What Social Networking Sites do you use for genealogy?
Ancestry, Facebook, GenealogyWise, Genes Reunited, Geni, LinkedIn, MyHeritage , Twitter, WeRelate, Other.
Do you have a blog? Yes
What are your blogs' URLs?http://cruwys.blogspot.com
What are your Other Hobbies, Activities, Interests? I like gardening, reading and travelling.
What is your favourite lesiure time activity apart from genealogy? Gardening
What is your favourite (non-genealogy book)? Pride and Prejudice, Jane Eyre and Tess of the d'Urbervilles (hope I'm allowed three!)
In honour of St Patrick's Day, March 17th, I should have found a genealogist from Ireland to profile on GeniMates but I just didn't think about it until now.
A number of the GeniMates who have been profiled have Irish ancestry so I am posting links to their profiles so that you can experience a touch of the Irish.
Joan Miller
Thomas MacEntee
Dan Lynch
Judy Webster
Liz Pidgeon
Pauleen Cass
Andrew Kemp
Tanya Honey
Sharon Brennan
Name Debbie Kennett
Are you a Hobbyist or Professional Genealogist? A bit of both
What is your day job? I am a freelance copy editor and proofreader but I mix it up with genealogy work such as writing articles and research in the local archives. I spent much of the second half of 2010 writing a book on DNA and social networking for the family historian which is due to be published by the History Press in the autumn.
What, if any, formal or informal studies have you undertaken that are relevant to genealogical research? None. I have learnt from experience and from my own reading. I found Mark Herber's book "Ancestral Trails" particularly useful when I first started out.
How long have you been chasing ancestors? Nine years
How did you get hooked on genealogy?
What are your areas of Expertise in Genealogy? I have a lot of experience with the records in Devon and Berkshire, and I am also familiar with many of the medieval records as I have a number of gentry lines which can be traced back a long way. In the last few years I have specialised in the field of genetic genealogy - the application of DNA testing to family history research. I also have a particular interest in the use of social media for genealogy purposes.
Please outline your involvement in Genealogy Societies and Groups I am a member of the Guild of One-Name Studies where I have registered the surnames Cruse and Cruwys. I am also a member of the Guild's Marketing Sub-Committee. In addition I belong to the following societies:
Berkshire Family History Society
Devon Family History Society
Society of Genealogists
Somerset and Dorset Family History Society
I have recently signed up to become a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists.
What are the lands of your ancestors? I have one great-great-great-grandfather from Scotland and one great-great-great-grandmother from County Kerry in Ireland. Otherwise all my lines are in England and concentrated in the south of the country. I have ancestors from Devon, Somerset, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and London.
What Family Names are you Researching? Batt, Berryman, Bodger, Boundy, Couch, Crewes, Crews, Cruise, Cruse, Cruwys, Dillon, Eastmond, Faithfull, Gough, Hunter, Kennett, Keynes, Male, Offley, Paddon, Pigg, Ratty, Rudd, Saunders, Smart, Tidbury, Trask, Tout, Underwood, Walker, Westcott, Whiting, Wiggins, Wolfenden and many more.
Who is your favourite ancestor? Why? My favourite ancestor is my great-great-great-great-grandfather David Tidbury simply because of his phenomenal military record. He was a humble private with the Royal Welch Fusiliers (23rd Regiment of Foot) in the Peninsular War (1808-1814). He somehow managed to survive most of the major battles in the Peninsular War (Albuera, Badajoz, Salamanca, Vittoria, etc) as well as the Battle of Waterloo. He died in 1867 when he was supposedly 84 years old. He was awarded the Military General Service Medal with eight clasps and, like every soldier who was present at the Battle of Waterloo, he was awarded the Waterloo Medal.
What ancestral city or town would you like to visit? Why? I would like to go and see the Peninsular War battlefields where David Tidbury fought. I'd also like to go to Richmond Hill, Long Island, in America to see the home where my great-great-grandmother Anne Cruwys nee Wall spent the last fifteen or so years of her life and to see the cemetery where she is buried (Maple Grove Cemetery in Kew Gardens, Queens, NY). She emigrated in 1901 when she was in her sixties to go and live with her unmarried son and daughter.
What is your favourite resource for genealogy? Mailing lists. I have met many wonderful people over the years who have provided much-needed advice and encouragement.
Do you keep your genealogy files on paper? Yes
Do you keep your genealogy files on a computer? Yes
What genealogy software do you use to record your family tree? I use Family Historian, a British genealogy programme, which is excellent for storing and sorting large quantities of data and for recording sources. A trial version can be downloaded here: http://www.family-historian.co.uk
Do you have your tree posted on the internet? No
What Social Networking Sites do you use for genealogy?
Do you have a blog? Yes
What are your blogs' URLs?
What are your Other Hobbies, Activities, Interests? I like gardening, reading and travelling.
What is your favourite lesiure time activity apart from genealogy? Gardening
What is your favourite (non-genealogy book)? Pride and Prejudice, Jane Eyre and Tess of the d'Urbervilles (hope I'm allowed three!)
Thursday, March 17, 2011
A Touch of the Irish
A number of the GeniMates who have been profiled have Irish ancestry so I am posting links to their profiles so that you can experience a touch of the Irish.
Joan Miller
Thomas MacEntee
Dan Lynch
Judy Webster
Liz Pidgeon
Pauleen Cass
Andrew Kemp
Tanya Honey
Sharon Brennan
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
William Douglas
An interest in the surname Douglas brought me in contact with William several years ago. I am pleased that William, our fist GeniMate from Scotland, consented to share his story here. As I don't have a photo of William I am posting an image of his website, that uses the TNG software developed by another GeniMate, Darrin Lythgoe.
Date 8th March 2011
Name William Douglas
Hometown Scotland
Are you a Hobbyist or Professional Genealogist?Hobbyist - but I don't like that name!
What, if any, formal or informal studies have you undertaken that are relevant to genealogical research? Although I have had no formal studies, I am learning all the time.
What is your day job? Retired
How long have you been chasing ancestors? 40 years
How did you get hooked on genealogy? My interest was first sparked when my aunt, (40+ years ago) discovered we were all Counts and Countesses of the Holy Roman Empire (look it up - you might be too!). Recently, my sister's research proved that assumption wrong! My aunt had asked me to look up some long lost ancestors in Devon, England, and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
For many years, it was an on/off activity depending where in the world I was, and what I was doing.
What are your areas of Expertise in Genealogy? I am more of a family historian than a genealogist. The one is of little interest to me without the other. Thus, when researching historical events, I come across people of interest to my genealogy research, which is broader than purely my family line, taking in all Douglases of every shade and hue. (Black and Red, for those who do not know their Douglas History!)
The Douglas family, or clan as some prefer, originated in Scotland, and as I live in Scotland, that is my principal area of expertise.
Please outline your involvement in Genealogy Societies and Groups I am not involved with any genealogy societies, but run the Douglas Archives ( www.douglashistory.co.uk ) website, which consumes much of my time and energy. I receive enquiries daily, some of which take several months to research, perhaps working with others, and some which can be dealt with by a quick response.
I am a member of a couple of on-line forums, where I contribute to research by others - and hope to get something back. It is always frustrating when people respond by telling me to look in my own website!
What are the lands of your ancestors? Scotland. But the are more Douglases in the diaspora than there are at home, so the I do not confine myself to my home country.
What Family Names are you Researching? Douglas, Douglass, Dugliss, Dowglace and many more.
Who is your favourite ancestor? Why? This is a genealogist's question! And as I research all Douglases, it excludes many people of real interest.
My favourite ancestor (after my parents) is always the one I am researching right now. Most recently, I have been wondering what my grandfather, his siblings and his parents were doing in Spitzbergen in 1906.
Although I have come to an end of this research, I am still fascinated by John Douglas of Newcastle who appears to have arrived in the town penniless, but became one of the biggest landowners in the area, using money he had made as an advocate and as Town Clerk, when he installed the town first water supply. I have been unable to identify his parents.
What ancestral city or town would you like to visit? Why? Flodden, near the village of Branxton, in Northumberland, England, the scene of a famous battle fought on the 9th of September 1513 between the English and the Scots. We are about to commemorate the 500th anniversary and I feel the Douglases should do something to recognise the many hundreds of them who lost their lives fighting for their country that day.
Among the ten thousand Scottish dead were all the leading men in the kingdom of Scotland, and there was no family of importance that had not lost a member in this great disaster.
Scottish dead included twelve earls, fifteen lords, many clan chiefs, an archbishop and above all King James IV himself. It is said that every great family in Scotland mourned the loss of someone at the Battleof Flodden.
What is your favourite resource for genealogy? Not genealogy.com! I am frustrated by the number of errors, with no way of them being corrected.
Google Books is a resource I use more and more, but it is also true that old books also contain mistakes. And so does my website!
Do you keep your genealogy files on paper? Yes
Do you keep your genealogy files on a computer? Yes
Do you have your tree posted on the internet? Yes
If Yes What is the URL? www.douglashistory.co.uk/famgen
Do you have a blog? Yes
What are your blogs' URLs?www.douglashistory.co.uk/community
What are your Other Hobbies, Activities, Interests? I look after several community websites and am an active member of my church, and give support to others in the area.
I am an active contributor to Wikipedia.
What is your favourite lesiure time activity apart from genealogy? None rises above another.
What is your favourite (non genealogy) book? My grandfather's photograph album.
If you have anything else to share please add it below My biggest genealogy failing is forgetting to quote sources.
What is your personal philosophy in a few words ? No matter how rude some people can be on the internet, keep cool, calm and carbolic (a phrase my sergeant major taught me).
Our next post is from another New South Welshman and an old mate of mine. I first met Sharon Brennan when I conducted an internet workshop in Coffs Harbour for teacher librarians many moons ago. Since then we have kept in contact via various online tools. Not only is Sharon a connected teacher librarian she is also a committed family historian who uses a range of 21st century tools to enhance her research.
Sharon is the author of two family history books:
Date 11 March 2011
Name Sharon Brennan (Moore)
Hometown Wallangarra, Queensland
Are you a hobbyist or professional genealogist? Hobbyist
What is your day job? Teacher Librarian
How long have you been chasing ancestors? Since I was 10
How did you get hooked on genealogy? My aunt began researching when I was 10 years old and each time I saw her she'd fill me in on her latest finds. After I married, my husband and I walked through the local cemetery and found 2 baby girls who shared his surname. Of course I wanted to know who they belonged to. We purchased their death certificates and off I went on a journey that is still going today.
What are your areas of expertise in genealogy? I have never really given this some thought. Can persistence and perseverance be called areas of expertise? I love the challenge and the hunt. Years of researching has given me the skills I think to know where to go to next and how to fill in the story. I enjoy internet research.
Please outline your involvement in Genealogy Societies and Groups I have at various times been a member of the following societies and groups:
Bourke Family History Society
Armidale Family History Group
Tamworth and District Family History Group
Coffs Harbour District Family History Society
Newcastle Family History Society
Society of Australian Genealogists
What are the lands of your ancestors? Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, England and Scotland. My husband adds German to our children's ancestry.
What Family Names are you Researching? Agnew, Allsop, Birt, Brennan, Cleary, Davenport, Dawson, Fleming, Flynn, Giles, Glock, Halloran/O'Halloran, Hannah, Harrison, Henry, Hope, Kerr, Key, Lagan, Lee/Ley, McColm, McElwee, McInerney, Merchant, Milroy, Moore, Mylan/Moylan, Odgen, Perrott/Parrot, Prince, Ryan, Scheef, Seabrook, Smail, Spatch/Spetch, Squires, Tobin, Waters, White.
Who is your favourite ancestor? Why? It's difficult to choose a favourite ancestor, but I think I would have to choose Dr William Lee Dawson, my great great grandfather. He was born in 1817 in Ireland and studied in Dublin to become a doctor. He worked as a surgeon on a packet ship around the Carribean and then came to Hobart Town as the surgeon aboard the Mooltan which arrived in 1854.
I am very grateful to have the following documents that belonged to him:
* a sheet of paper detailing his birth in 1817
* copies of many certificates pertaining to his medical studies
* a diary written by him while he was a surgeon sailing to the Carribean and then again to Hobart Town
* his notebooks which contained notes of the day to day running of his life as a country doctor
* a large portrait of him in his uniform (found in the back of a cow shed)
* his surgeon's amputation saw
After writing all this I think of others who perhaps should have been mentioned.
e.g. My gggg grandmother Hanorah Flynn who came to Ausralia in 1826 with a young family to join her convict husband Patrick. What courage that must have taken!
What ancestral city or town would you like to visit? Why? Last year I went to Ireland and Britain and managed to visit a few places where ancestors lived. I can't wait to go back to Bellaghy (in the heart of IRA territory during the Troubles) and Ballymoney both in Northern Ireland, Dublin and London and Cork and Cootehill and Stranraer and and and........
What is your favourite resource for genealogy? At the moment it is the internet as I really don't have time to visit because I live too far away from archives and repositories. I quite like Ancestry but don't like the family trees full of errors.
Do you keep your genealogy files on paper? Yes
Do you keep your genealogy files on a computer? Yes
What genealogy software do you use to record your family tree? Reunion for Mac but am seriously looking at The Next Generation. Perhaps that's a Christmas holiday job.
Do you have your tree posted on the internet? No
What Social Networking Sites do you use for genealogy? Ancestry, Facebook, GenealogyWise, LinkedIn, Twitter
Do you have a blog? Yes
What are your blogs' URLs?http://genealogymatters2me.blogspot.com/
What are your Other Hobbies, Activities, Interests? Is there really time for anything else?????
What is your favourite lesiure time activity apart from genealogy? Reading
What is your favourite (non-genealogy) book? I've had to think too long for this question so there mustn't be a favourite. I read lots of books for my day job as a teacher librarian.
I've attended a couple of national conferences, and went to a number of seminars at the National Archives when I lived in DC. I'm currently enrolled in the NGS American Genealogy home study course. Eventually I plan to do the Boston University program as well.
When I moved to Milwaukee at age 21, I didn't know a soul, and I had no roots here. An elderly cousin wrote and said that my great-great-great grandparents had settled in Wisconsin, and were buried an hour or so north of where I lived. I called a local historical society looking for help finding their graves, and the woman who called back said, "You know, we have a whole file on them. You should come up and see it." I did, and discovered a treasure trove of information, including the original will of my great-great-great grandmother. She had loaned money to her eldest son (the one I'm descended from), and he hadn't paid her back. She spelled out her displeasure in her will, and took it out of his inheritance...with interest. I was hooked.
At-home mom to a 3-year-old and 5-year-old
Since 1993 (with a long break in the 2000s).
Wisconsin and Minnesota research. I've lived in Milwaukee for a while now, but most of my family is from Minnesota.
Longtime member of NGS, APG, the MInnesota Historical Society and the Wisconsin Historical Society. I tend to join smaller, local societies when I'm researching folks in a particular area.
Norway, Germany, and Great Britain
Scheiber, Holthusen, a bunch of Norwegian patronyms that are pretty much useless for surname lists, and some British names so common I can't bear to type them in. Lately, I'm also obsessed with a collateral line of a collateral line of a collateral line of Leiendecker folks from St. Louis, Missouri.
Frederick Scheiber (1843-1913). He lived in Milwaukee his whole adult life, and had a fascinating career as an attorney, politician, and public servant. He left me a fantastic paper trail, and made me feel I had roots in Milwaukee when I settled here to marry a cheesehead. Fred also carefully spelled out which of his grandkids would get each of his books in his will. That's a dude after my own heart.
Bergen, Norway (although I'd actually like to see all of Norway...such a beautiful country).
Ancestry. I know it's dull, but I remember the days when you had to leave your house to do even a tiny bit of research, and with two small children in tow, I couldn't do any research at all if it weren't for Ancestry. For on-site research, the Minnesota Historical Society library is the happiest place on earth. They have an amazing collection, they have enough microfilm readers even on busy days, and the cafeteria is fantastic.
RootsMagic
Ancestry, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter
http://www.cluewagon.com
Once in a while the kids let me alone long enough to have a shower. Mostly, though, I'm either working, doing genealogy, or actively engaged in descendant-care for all of the hours I'm awake. I plan to develop some hobbies or interests in 2019 or so.
Reading
"Giants in the Earth" by O.E. Rolvaag
Is being a little mouthy a philosophy? If so, I'm there.
I like Yoda too. "Do or do not. There is no try." That's good stuff right there.
I was surprised earlier this week when I was notified that I had been nominated for the "One Lovely Blog Award" by Aillin of Australian Genealogy Journeys. As the GeniMates blog is only a month old I was thrilled to have it recognised in such a way. Thanks, Aillin, for the vote of confidence.
The rules for accepting the award are:* Accept the ward, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who granted the award and their blog link.
* Pass the award on to 15 other blogs that you've newly discovered.
* Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.
It seems a bit like overkill to me to pass this award on to 15 blogs so I am just going to select a few that I follow and enjoy from my RSS Feeds. These blogs reflect my varied interests. Here they are:
http://gumleaves.blogspot.com/ Gum Leaves by Betty
http://www.freetech4teachers.com/ Free Technology for Teachers - Mr Byrne
http://localhistorynews.blogspot.com/ Local History News Link
http://john-mcculloch.blogspot.com/ Thru my lens by - John McCulloch
http://wallerawanglibrary.blogspot.com/ Wallerawang Branch Library - Diana Simpkins
Thanks to Alona Tester, The voice of Gould Genealogy, for submitting a profile to GeniMates. I have really enjoyed getting to know you.
No
http://www.gouldgenealogy.com
Karate
Life really is what you make it
Name William Douglas
Hometown Scotland
Are you a Hobbyist or Professional Genealogist?
What, if any, formal or informal studies have you undertaken that are relevant to genealogical research? Although I have had no formal studies, I am learning all the time.
What is your day job? Retired
How long have you been chasing ancestors? 40 years
How did you get hooked on genealogy? My interest was first sparked when my aunt, (40+ years ago) discovered we were all Counts and Countesses of the Holy Roman Empire (look it up - you might be too!). Recently, my sister's research proved that assumption wrong! My aunt had asked me to look up some long lost ancestors in Devon, England, and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
For many years, it was an on/off activity depending where in the world I was, and what I was doing.
What are your areas of Expertise in Genealogy? I am more of a family historian than a genealogist. The one is of little interest to me without the other. Thus, when researching historical events, I come across people of interest to my genealogy research, which is broader than purely my family line, taking in all Douglases of every shade and hue. (Black and Red, for those who do not know their Douglas History!)
The Douglas family, or clan as some prefer, originated in Scotland, and as I live in Scotland, that is my principal area of expertise.
Please outline your involvement in Genealogy Societies and Groups I am not involved with any genealogy societies, but run the Douglas Archives ( www.douglashistory.co.uk ) website, which consumes much of my time and energy. I receive enquiries daily, some of which take several months to research, perhaps working with others, and some which can be dealt with by a quick response.
I am a member of a couple of on-line forums, where I contribute to research by others - and hope to get something back. It is always frustrating when people respond by telling me to look in my own website!
What are the lands of your ancestors? Scotland. But the are more Douglases in the diaspora than there are at home, so the I do not confine myself to my home country.
What Family Names are you Researching? Douglas, Douglass, Dugliss, Dowglace and many more.
Who is your favourite ancestor? Why? This is a genealogist's question! And as I research all Douglases, it excludes many people of real interest.
My favourite ancestor (after my parents) is always the one I am researching right now. Most recently, I have been wondering what my grandfather, his siblings and his parents were doing in Spitzbergen in 1906.
Although I have come to an end of this research, I am still fascinated by John Douglas of Newcastle who appears to have arrived in the town penniless, but became one of the biggest landowners in the area, using money he had made as an advocate and as Town Clerk, when he installed the town first water supply. I have been unable to identify his parents.
What ancestral city or town would you like to visit? Why? Flodden, near the village of Branxton, in Northumberland, England, the scene of a famous battle fought on the 9th of September 1513 between the English and the Scots. We are about to commemorate the 500th anniversary and I feel the Douglases should do something to recognise the many hundreds of them who lost their lives fighting for their country that day.
Among the ten thousand Scottish dead were all the leading men in the kingdom of Scotland, and there was no family of importance that had not lost a member in this great disaster.
Scottish dead included twelve earls, fifteen lords, many clan chiefs, an archbishop and above all King James IV himself. It is said that every great family in Scotland mourned the loss of someone at the Battleof Flodden.
What is your favourite resource for genealogy? Not genealogy.com! I am frustrated by the number of errors, with no way of them being corrected.
Google Books is a resource I use more and more, but it is also true that old books also contain mistakes. And so does my website!
Do you keep your genealogy files on paper? Yes
Do you keep your genealogy files on a computer? Yes
Do you have your tree posted on the internet? Yes
If Yes What is the URL?
Do you have a blog? Yes
What are your blogs' URLs?
What are your Other Hobbies, Activities, Interests? I look after several community websites and am an active member of my church, and give support to others in the area.
I am an active contributor to Wikipedia.
What is your favourite lesiure time activity apart from genealogy? None rises above another.
What is your favourite (non genealogy) book? My grandfather's photograph album.
If you have anything else to share please add it below My biggest genealogy failing is forgetting to quote sources.
What is your personal philosophy in a few words ? No matter how rude some people can be on the internet, keep cool, calm and carbolic (a phrase my sergeant major taught me).
Monday, March 14, 2011
Genimates Visitors
When I look at the analytics for visits to Genimates I notice that the site gets a number of visits from countries other than those I would expect like Australia, New Zealand, USA, Canada and the United Kingdom.
The site has also had visits from China, Germany, South Korea,Ukraine and Vietnam. As I would love to profile genealogists from "all over the place" if you are one of these special visitors I would be thrilled if you would contact me via a comment on this blog or at genimates@gmail.com so that we could talk about adding your profile.
The site has also had visits from China, Germany, South Korea,Ukraine and Vietnam. As I would love to profile genealogists from "all over the place" if you are one of these special visitors I would be thrilled if you would contact me via a comment on this blog or at genimates@gmail.com so that we could talk about adding your profile.
Sharon Brennan
Sharon is the author of two family history books:
Crossing the seas to build a future : twelve generations of the Seabrook family 2005
Date 11 March 2011
Name Sharon Brennan (Moore)
Hometown Wallangarra, Queensland
Are you a hobbyist or professional genealogist? Hobbyist
What is your day job? Teacher Librarian
How long have you been chasing ancestors? Since I was 10
How did you get hooked on genealogy? My aunt began researching when I was 10 years old and each time I saw her she'd fill me in on her latest finds. After I married, my husband and I walked through the local cemetery and found 2 baby girls who shared his surname. Of course I wanted to know who they belonged to. We purchased their death certificates and off I went on a journey that is still going today.
What are your areas of expertise in genealogy? I have never really given this some thought. Can persistence and perseverance be called areas of expertise? I love the challenge and the hunt. Years of researching has given me the skills I think to know where to go to next and how to fill in the story. I enjoy internet research.
Please outline your involvement in Genealogy Societies and Groups I have at various times been a member of the following societies and groups:
Bourke Family History Society
Armidale Family History Group
Tamworth and District Family History Group
Coffs Harbour District Family History Society
Newcastle Family History Society
Society of Australian Genealogists
What are the lands of your ancestors? Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, England and Scotland. My husband adds German to our children's ancestry.
What Family Names are you Researching? Agnew, Allsop, Birt, Brennan, Cleary, Davenport, Dawson, Fleming, Flynn, Giles, Glock, Halloran/O'Halloran, Hannah, Harrison, Henry, Hope, Kerr, Key, Lagan, Lee/Ley, McColm, McElwee, McInerney, Merchant, Milroy, Moore, Mylan/Moylan, Odgen, Perrott/Parrot, Prince, Ryan, Scheef, Seabrook, Smail, Spatch/Spetch, Squires, Tobin, Waters, White.
Who is your favourite ancestor? Why? It's difficult to choose a favourite ancestor, but I think I would have to choose Dr William Lee Dawson, my great great grandfather. He was born in 1817 in Ireland and studied in Dublin to become a doctor. He worked as a surgeon on a packet ship around the Carribean and then came to Hobart Town as the surgeon aboard the Mooltan which arrived in 1854.
I am very grateful to have the following documents that belonged to him:
* a sheet of paper detailing his birth in 1817
* copies of many certificates pertaining to his medical studies
* a diary written by him while he was a surgeon sailing to the Carribean and then again to Hobart Town
* his notebooks which contained notes of the day to day running of his life as a country doctor
* a large portrait of him in his uniform (found in the back of a cow shed)
* his surgeon's amputation saw
After writing all this I think of others who perhaps should have been mentioned.
e.g. My gggg grandmother Hanorah Flynn who came to Ausralia in 1826 with a young family to join her convict husband Patrick. What courage that must have taken!
What ancestral city or town would you like to visit? Why? Last year I went to Ireland and Britain and managed to visit a few places where ancestors lived. I can't wait to go back to Bellaghy (in the heart of IRA territory during the Troubles) and Ballymoney both in Northern Ireland, Dublin and London and Cork and Cootehill and Stranraer and and and........
What is your favourite resource for genealogy? At the moment it is the internet as I really don't have time to visit because I live too far away from archives and repositories. I quite like Ancestry but don't like the family trees full of errors.
Do you keep your genealogy files on paper? Yes
Do you keep your genealogy files on a computer? Yes
What genealogy software do you use to record your family tree? Reunion for Mac but am seriously looking at The Next Generation. Perhaps that's a Christmas holiday job.
Do you have your tree posted on the internet? No
What Social Networking Sites do you use for genealogy? Ancestry, Facebook, GenealogyWise, LinkedIn, Twitter
Do you have a blog? Yes
What are your blogs' URLs?
What are your Other Hobbies, Activities, Interests? Is there really time for anything else?????
What is your favourite lesiure time activity apart from genealogy? Reading
What is your favourite (non-genealogy) book? I've had to think too long for this question so there mustn't be a favourite. I read lots of books for my day job as a teacher librarian.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
One Lovely Blog Award - x2
What a positive day it has been for Geniaus. Firstly I was awarded life membership of ASLA (NSW) and then, when I came home and read my blog comments, I found that I had been given the One Lovely Blog Award for the second time.
Thanks, Sharon Brennan, from The Tree of me for the nomination. I truly value your support.
As I have already accepted the award and nominated some blogs I am going to refer to that first post and reiterate my nominations from there.
http://gumleaves.blogspot.com/ Gum Leaves by Betty
http://www.freetech4teachers.com/ Free Technology for Teachers - Mr Byrne
http://localhistorynews.blogspot.com/ Local History News Link
http://john-mcculloch.blogspot.com/ Thru my lens by - John McCulloch
http://wallerawanglibrary.blogspot.com/ Wallerawang Branch Library - Diana Simpkins
Thanks, Sharon Brennan, from The Tree of me for the nomination. I truly value your support.
As I have already accepted the award and nominated some blogs I am going to refer to that first post and reiterate my nominations from there.
http://gumleaves.blogspot.com/ Gum Leaves by Betty
http://www.freetech4teachers.com/ Free Technology for Teachers - Mr Byrne
http://localhistorynews.blogspot.com/ Local History News Link
http://john-mcculloch.blogspot.com/ Thru my lens by - John McCulloch
http://wallerawanglibrary.blogspot.com/ Wallerawang Branch Library - Diana Simpkins
Friday, March 11, 2011
Kerry Scott
Reading
I like Yoda too. "Do or do not. There is no try." That's good stuff right there.
One Lovely Blog Award
The rules for accepting the award are:* Accept the ward, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who granted the award and their blog link.
* Pass the award on to 15 other blogs that you've newly discovered.
* Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.
It seems a bit like overkill to me to pass this award on to 15 blogs so I am just going to select a few that I follow and enjoy from my RSS Feeds. These blogs reflect my varied interests. Here they are:
http://gumleaves.blogspot.com/ Gum Leaves by Betty
http://www.freetech4teachers.com/ Free Technology for Teachers - Mr Byrne
http://localhistorynews.blogspot.com/ Local History News Link
http://john-mcculloch.blogspot.com/ Thru my lens by - John McCulloch
http://wallerawanglibrary.blogspot.com/ Wallerawang Branch Library - Diana Simpkins
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Alona Tester
Thanks to Alona Tester, The voice of Gould Genealogy, for submitting a profile to GeniMates. I have really enjoyed getting to know you.
No formal research. I have taken a few of Graham Jaunay's courses, as well as having sat in many talks at events over the years.
I grew up with it, literally having been born into a family where my dad (Alan Phillips) was researching our family way, way back. So I've always had an interest, but only relatively recently made the 'ok, I'm gonna do this for myself' decision.
I have the awesome job of working at Gould Genealogy ... I am the buyer, office manager, customer service helper, website updater, newsletter organiser and the voice of Gould Genealogy on our blog, as well as Facebook and Twitter.
About 5 years
No official expertise, but I do have a good knowledge of genealogy products, as well as publishers, websites and keeping up with genealogy news in general. I also can offer suggestions to many who ask "Where can I look next?"
I am a member of two Societies, the South Australian Genealogy & Heraldry Society, as well as the Cornish Family History Society. Though not an active member, I do maintain these memberships as they both relate to areas where my ancestors were.
Australia: mostly South Australia
England: for my family largely Cornwall and Devon (well, those that I'm researching now)
Finland
United States: New Jersey, New York
England: for my family largely Cornwall and Devon (well, those that I'm researching now)
Finland
United States: New Jersey, New York
I don't get a lot of time to do my own research, so I don't have a heap of families that I'm chasing ... but those I am are:
BANFIELD
- Redruth, Cornwall, England
- New Jersey, United States
DALEY
- South Australia, Australia
GOULD
- South Australia, Australia
KELLY
- Isle of Man, England
- South Australia, Australia
KEMP
- Lamorran, Cornwall, England
PHILLIPS
- Redruth, Cornwall, England
- New Jersey, United States
- Moonta, South Australia, Australia
POLKINGHORNE
- Cornwall, England
TREWARTHA
- Redruth, Cornwall, England
- New Jersey, United States
WINTER
- Helsinki, Finland
- South Australia, Australia
- Redruth, Cornwall, England
- New Jersey, United States
DALEY
- South Australia, Australia
GOULD
- South Australia, Australia
KELLY
- Isle of Man, England
- South Australia, Australia
KEMP
- Lamorran, Cornwall, England
PHILLIPS
- Redruth, Cornwall, England
- New Jersey, United States
- Moonta, South Australia, Australia
POLKINGHORNE
- Cornwall, England
TREWARTHA
- Redruth, Cornwall, England
- New Jersey, United States
WINTER
- Helsinki, Finland
- South Australia, Australia
My favourite would be my great grandpa Otto Rafael WINTER. He was born in Helsinki, Finland in 1880, and became a seaman so as to avoid to compulsory military service with the Russian Army.
According to family lore, he sailed around the world several times on various ships. I still have a block of 5 years between 1902 and 1907 where I can't track him.
He did eventully jump ship in Queensland, Australia, where he met and married Irene DALEY, and had four children. He became naturalised and went to fight WWI and WWII for the Australian Army.
While I do know a reasonable amount about Otto, it is his missing five years, and also the 18 years in Finland that I know little of, so am still searching.
According to family lore, he sailed around the world several times on various ships. I still have a block of 5 years between 1902 and 1907 where I can't track him.
He did eventully jump ship in Queensland, Australia, where he met and married Irene DALEY, and had four children. He became naturalised and went to fight WWI and WWII for the Australian Army.
While I do know a reasonable amount about Otto, it is his missing five years, and also the 18 years in Finland that I know little of, so am still searching.
I would have to say Helsinki, Finland, probably because Otto WINTER is the person I have spent the longest time researching a single person, as well as also now having contact with distant family there.
There are many ... but I will narrow it down to three:
Ancestry.com - I wouldn't have found my US family without it
RootsWeb - I've had numerous successes with contact and suggestions on these mailing lists
Cyndis List - Love this site!! It's where to look first, when you don't know where to look.
Ancestry.com - I wouldn't have found my US family without it
RootsWeb - I've had numerous successes with contact and suggestions on these mailing lists
Cyndis List - Love this site!! It's where to look first, when you don't know where to look.
Yes
Yes
I use Legacy Family Tree for entering, and The Master Genealogist for printing out charts
No
Ancestry, Facebook, Genes Reunited, Twitter, Other
Between work, and genealogy it doesn't leave a lot of time for other activities, but I do read a heap of genealogy mags and novels, I like scrapbooking though I haven't done it much, and I do practice karate.
anything by Dean Koontz
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